Thailand: Grief and anger at cremation of children killed on bus

The cremation ceremony for the 20 young children and three teachers who died in the school bus fire took place on Tuesday, October 8.

See: Thailand: 20 children killed in CNG school bus fire

Seven days have passed since the tragedy that took place on Tuesday, October 1st, which revealed that the causes of the fire were linked to "scheming" that led to serious security breaches.

See: Thailand: Terrible revelation in the bus fire that killed 20 children

Celebration of the last funeral rites for the victims

Families of the victims and monks during the cremation of the bodies in Lan Sak town in Uthai Thani province, October 8, 2024. Photo: AP.

Thousands of people gathered in central Thailand to celebrate the last rites for schoolchildren and teachers killed in the fire.

A large cremation site has been set up near the temple in Lan Sak town in Uthai Thani province, the grounds of which house the victims' school.

Several ovens with high chimneys were erected, and floral ornaments were placed in front of them.

The cremation took place under the patronage of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who sent the head of his Privy Council, former army chief and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, to represent him.

Parents dressed in black escorted the coffins carrying their children, placing portraits and toys beside them.

"When I heard the news, I hoped it wasn't my son," said Wichan Suebsaichan, the father of nine-year-old Reutthawat.

“He was a very good boy, happy and sporty.

He wanted to become a footballer.

Bantima Tuadchampa lost her six-year-old grandson in the fire.

"Now the house seems too quiet," she said.

"I can't stand it.

May he rest in peace."

The monks chanted as the 23 coffins were placed in individual cremation ovens, ending a week of traditional funeral ceremonies.

About 5,000 people attended the mass cremation, including community members and senior government officials.

A terrible tragedy that sparked national indignation

Firefighters battle flames that engulfed a school bus with students and teachers on board on Phahon Yothin Road in Pathum Thani on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Photo: Fire & Rescue Thailand.

Six teachers and 39 primary and middle school students were on the bus when it caught fire on October 1 on a highway in Pathum Thani, a northern suburb of Bangkok.

The fire spread so quickly that only 22 people were able to escape.

The tragedy sparked national outrage over inadequate safety procedures.

She urged authorities to take immediate legal action, arresting the bus driver for alleged reckless driving and the director of the company that owned the vehicle for alleged negligence leading to death.

Transportation officials came under scrutiny after reports emerged that the bus had passed an inspection about four months before the fire.

Following the accident, investigators discovered that the bus was equipped with 11 natural gas cylinders, although it only had a permit for six cylinders.

Authorities said the bus, which was more than 50 years old, had been modified to run on CNG (compressed natural gas), which is often used, especially by commercial vehicles, to save money.

Police believe a gas tube from one of the tanks broke loose and sparks ignited the leaking gas.

All more than 13,000 CNG-powered buses have been ordered to be inspected within 60 days, while the Ministry of Education has suspended study tours in the meantime.

Victims' families to file class action lawsuit against bus company

Bereaved families perform a spirit-invoking ritual at the site of the bus fire; monks chant amid cries of pain.

Bereaved family members attending the funeral denounced the bus company for failing to comply with public transport regulations and demanded a ban on gas-powered buses.

“The bus driver also needs to know everything about the bus so that when accidents like this happen, he knows how to save the passengers,” Bantima said.

Wichan blamed his son's death on the company's failure to carry out proper checks on their vehicle.

He told AFP that he and other families would file a class action lawsuit against the bus company for negligence.

However, he said the compensation would never be enough.

"No punishment or amount of money is more important than my son's life."

Source: The Nation Thailand , Barrons